Giuliani eyeing late summer for decision on presidential run

Former Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani speaks at the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, September 3, 2008. Photo: REUTERS

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has set a late summer timetable for his decision on whether he'll try again for the White House in 2012.

I think during the summer people don't pay as much attention, Giuliani said, adding that his very high name recognition permits him the opportunity to wait, USA Today reported.

Giuliani was in New Hampshire yesterday, where, coincidentally, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney was formally kicking off his presidential campaign. Waiting until Labor Day would also allow Giuliani time to see how his odds stack up.

On Thursday, Giuliani himself confirmed the speculation saying this time he would do it the right way, unlike his 2008 campaign in which he notably skipped campaigning in the early voting states.

We didn't do it the right way in the last presidential election, Giuliani told reporters at an Italian restaurant in New Hampshire. We were spending so much time trying to raise money that we forgot about the politics, he said, admitting that he didn't spend enough one-on-one time with voters.

In 2007, the former mayor, riding on the fame won for his leadership of New York City following the Sept. 11 attacks, enjoyed the status of early frontrunner. But after making appearances in the first two states in the nominating process - Iowa and New Hampshire - he focused more heavily on Florida.

His strategy ultimately failed and he placed in a distant sixth in Iowa and fourth in New Hampshire. After that, his campaign could just not gain momentum.

Nearly 100 turned out for a luncheon with Giuliani at Vito Marcello's Italian Bistro in New Hampshire, where he also said: I would like to see a Republican defeat President Obama. If I thought someone else had a better chance of doing that than me, I'd probably end up supporting that person. If I thought I had the best chance, I'd be more inclined to do it.

The former mayor also had words about his possible competitor Mitt Romney, saying, I think he went through pretty much the same experience(last election) and probably he has the same idea - you know, the idea that he's going to have to spend a lot of time here and let people get to know him. Giuliani said. The question for Mitt is: How good a retail campaigner is he?

Giuliani will remain in New Hampshire on Friday, sitting down with the state's newspaper, Union Leader, before a lunch with activists, Politico reported.

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